Stamp-affixing machine



H. H. DANIELS.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY]. 1917. 1,346,484. Patented July 13,192

2 SHEETS'SHEET 1.

m whi H. H. DANIELS.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION, FILED MAY7. 1917.

1,346,484, Patented July 13, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Inventor.- liarryflflazuss unrreo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY H. DANIELS, OF WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SERVICE MAGHINES GOMPANY, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION OF MASSA- QHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE. I

Application filed May 7'. 1917. Serial No. 166,887.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, Haney H. DANIELs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Winthrop, county or Sulllolln Commonwealth of lvlassachnsetts, have invented an improvement in Stamp-limiting lvlachines, oi which the tl ollowin rr description, in con ncrtion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like clan-actors on the drawings re n'csentin g like parts in each of the several VlUWS. V

This invention relates to stamp aliixing machines o'l a type adapted to hold a supply of stamps such as postage stamps provided in ribhon form and made up into a roll, and to :lt'eed out and apply the same as required for use. The p ent type of machine is also one adapted to .pply moisture to the sur' face to receive the stamp just in advance of the. laying of the stamp thereon, and is equipped With a roller for applyingthe stamp to the moistened surface, which roller is also the instramentality operative for feeding the stamps from the roll to the applying point. A prime object of the invention is to provide a device of this character exceedingly simple in construction but eliicient and reliable in operation and having no fragile or delicate parts apt to get out of operation or cause trouble in use. One important icatnre ol the invention consists in improved means "for Feeding the stamps from the re l to the applying point, this consisting in .a slidable plate adapted to grip the stamp ribbon 'lrictionally on the perlora tion line into an angular corner where the stamp is held lrictionally as the plate is slid iorxvard positively by suitable operz'iting; means preferably operated by the applying; roll, thus dispensing with delicate and fragile spring lingers which have heretoi ore been usually employed tor engaging; the per'lorations in the stamp ribbon to feed the same forward. According to a further feature of the invention I provide a water container equipped with a moistureapplying Wick to engage the stamp receiving surface some little distance in advan e oi the applying roll and yieldable relatively to said roll upon engagement with the stamp receiving surface so that in use 1t is not necessary for the operator to bring the surfaces of the applying roll and the wick into precisely the plane of the. receiving surface before the device canhe used to apply the stamp. A further object is to provide improved simplified means for loclcing the applying roll against i'urther movement after a stamp has been fed out and applied thereby, such means also preferably including provision whereby the roll i s automatically released for another operation as soon as lifted from the stamp receiving surface. The foregoing and other.

objects and advantages oi the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, and the distinctive tea tures of novelty will be pointed out in the amiended claims.

Referring to'the drawings: 1* lg'ure 1 1s a side elevation showing a .machine constructed in accordance With my tive showing aportion oi the feeding; slide;

8 is a fragmentary perspective show ing' the manner oi operation of the cuttingotl blade;

e Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the feeding slide and cooperating elements; and

F 10 is a detail perspective eliciting the device for locking the roll at the end of an operative movement;

The housing 10 of the machine is formed with an enlarged upward rearward portion 11 adapted to receive a roll of stamps R, thecentral pin or roll 12 being shown for Patented July 13, 1920.

supporting andguiding the stamp roll. The

housing also-has a forward lower project1on 13 incasmg a stamp applying roll 1% which issupported on pivots 15 ofthe hous ing, this stamp applying roll according to the present invention being relatively large so as to get an adequate bearing and afford ,sufiicienflt impulse for feeding out the stamps without undue pressure being applied agalnst the stamp recelving surface. The periphery of the stamp IOll IS preferably covered with a layer 16 of rubber or other frictlonal materlal to et a better frictlon extendin to the rear of the housin v where it has an upward projection pivoted at 19 bya pm whlch may have a sliding ht through ears at the sides of the housing removably hold the tank assembled in the housing. The forward portion of the tank has a downwardly projecting nose 20' in which is fitted a wick 21 spaced a little dis tance to the rear of the roll 141;. The tank is normally-tilteddownward so that this wick presenting nose, is some little below'the' plane of the roll 14;, bya leaf spring 22 llIiQCl to the base of the housing and pressing -down-.

wardly upon the top of the forwardly pros jectingportion of thetank; this tending to tiltthe tank downward as far as permitted by clips 23 at the rearward top portion thereof which engage a ledge on the housing. e The tank 18 provided at its rear upper portion with an opening forfillingthe'same closed by a plug screw 24:.

-The housing has mounted to extend llOI'lzontallv therein and spaced above the base a floor 25 thereof a lengthwiseextending plate.

26, this reaching from a point near the rear face of the roll ll-back-to a short distance from the rear of the housing the major rear portion of this plate being b furcated with a central lengthwise extending slot 27 of substantial width.' Guided to slide horizontally in one slde of the housingzand near I the base thereof between guide ways 28 is a slide bar 29, thisbar extending toward the front of the machine where it has a a coil spring 32 anchored to the housing and transversely extending lug 30 engageable by an arcuate projection 31 carried by and extending out from an end of the roll 14.

The slide bar 29 is normally held at its rearward limit of movement by a tension engaging-an upward projection 33 of said bar. The lug 30 1s in this rearwardposition of the ba-r located so' that itis engaged by the projection 31 at the beginning of an with the lugSO until the slide bar hasvbeen' 1 operative movement of the roll to draw the slide outward, continuing 1n engagement 'attheir extremities a roller 37.

drawn fully outward with enough movement to feed out a stamp as to be later more fully explained. The slide bar 29 at its rear portion has an inward lateral projection 34 with an upward extension 35.

through the slot 27 of the stationary plate 26, this upward extension being bent inward atan acute angle with" reference to the plate 26 as seen in Figs; 2 and ii. The

upper end. of this extension" 35Jhas fixed thereto spaced apart arms 36 extending up ward and forwardly, andhaving journaled Fitted to slide on the topof the stationary plate 26 is a secondary slide member in the form of a plate 38. This plate has engaged therewith a tension coil spring 39 anchored at its.

other end to an inner upturned extension of the plate 26 as seen at 40. The stamp ribbon r from the stamp roll R is led downa wardand guided at the inner side of the roll 37 downward and inward around the inner edge of the plate 38 and thus by the action of the spring 39 pressed up towardthe corner formed by the inturned upward extension of the slide bar projection or plate 3 Thence the stamp ribbon isled along the top of the plate 26 as a floor or base support and between the same and the secondary slide plate 38 to the front of the plate 26 which as stated is adj acentthe rear face of the roll 14. 7 At the forward end of this plate 26 is a cutting edge 41 extending diagonally upward at a small incline from the plane of one side of the plate 26 to provide for a cutting or shearing off of the in dividual stamps at the termination of a feeding movement, 2'. 6., after the'slide bar 29 has completed a forward movement. Pivoted oveiythe plate 26 near the forward end thereof is a pawl 12 extending downward and forwardly with a nipping edge adapted to gripthe stamp ribbon quite close tothe cutting of? point to hold the same from any backward movement which would otherwise occur upon retraction of the'slide bar 29 and the slide 38 under the action of i the springs 32 and 89. Tt may now be understood that when the roll 14 is pressed on tQ'iL stamp receiving surface and the device moved to the left'as shown in Figs. land 9, the projection 31 engaging the lug of the slide bar will move it forward against the springs 32 and39, and the spring 39 holding the secondary plate 38 drawn up into theacute angle corner at will grip the stamp ribbon into said corner as the shdebar is moved forward so that the limit of forward movement it is held at the continued movement 01 the roll 14, the

forward edge of the stamp fed out being new caught between the bottom of the roll it and the stamp receiving surface; the

stamp will be sheared. oil by engagement with the diagonally disposed cutting edge 41, this occurring before the succeeding portion of the stamp ribbon is released from the feeding device and the clamp plate 38; it being understood that the cutting edge il is so located that at each feed movement a perforation line of the stamp ribbon will be in alinement therewith. Thereupon the projection 31 on its continued upward movement passes out of engagement with the lug 30 permitting the slide bar 29 to move back under the action of the springs 32. 39. The stamp ribbon will be prevented from any backward movement at this time, being instantly caught by the pawl 42 to clamp the same against the bottom of the plate'26. I hi the return movement of the slide bar 29 another stamp length is fed downnaird from the stamp roll R. The rolls of stamps as supplied commercially lor use. are found to have the perforation lines P more or less inaccurately located thereon, 0., the individual. stamps vary to some little extent in width. One important feature of my invention has to do with improved means for insuring the feeding out from the roll it or just the exact width of a stamp up to the perforation line regard less of variations in the position of such perforation line within considerable limits. It will be observed that the roll 37 and the clamp corner 35 are some little to the rear,

oi the Forward edge 01": the stamp roll from which the ribbon is :Fed and hence the feedi n g movement for drawing the ribbon from the roll takes place on the retracting movement oil the slide bar so that all that is left to do on the forward movement of the slide bar to move forward the length oi? stamp ribbon sliding on the fined plate 26 and over the cutting edge 41. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be observed that the spring drawn plate 38 at the end of the retracting movement of the slide bar 29 does not come quite up into the corner This is for the reason that the full Feeding movement from the roll it as ei'lieeted by the entire retracting slide bar movement is suitir-ieut to teed out a stamp oi? the maximum width ever likely to be encountered. Thus as stamps of any less than this maximum width are engaged, the plate 38 being separately acted onby the spring 39, will draw down the stamp ribbon until it encounters a perforation line therein, which in practice brings it nearly but not quite up into the corner 35, whereupon the stamp ribbon yieldii'ig on this weakened perforation line bends abruptly making a corner into which the edge of the plate 38 engages and encounters suilicient resistance owing to the proximity of the corner 35, so that "further backward movement of the plate 38 is arrested and the feeding out movement from the ribbon it is thus determined at the pert'oration line even though there may be some little variations in the spacing 'between such perforation lines. As the slide bar 25) begins its next forward movement the stamp is of course pressed back and clamped tightly between the edge of the plate 38 and the corner extension 35, but this does not result in any further feeding out. of the stamp ribbon from the roll, on account of the relatively rearward position of the corner at the beginning of such movement.

Forobtaining access to the interior oi the housing 10 to permit insertion of stamp rolls, or iior attention to the parts, the maj or portion of one of the side plates may be removably locked to the housing, such side plate portion being indicated at 56 fitted to the housing along the lines 57, and having a key hole 59 to receive a lrey ior engaging a suitable loclr not shown. in accordance with my invention means is provii'led whereby the roll l l is locked automatically from further movement after each operation of feeding out and. applying a stamp: For this purpose a locking arm at is pivoted at is to the housing and extends into position to lock the roll by engaging with the projection 31 at the completion of an operative movement as seen in Fig. 3. To hold the arm si l thus in locking position it has formed therewith a transversely extending arm 41G equipped with a hook at its end engageable with a cooperative hook on a locking pawl or dog 4-7 pivoted to the housing at 48. The pawl 47 has pivoted thereto at 49 some little. distance from its own pivot a finger 5t) non mally held out some little distance from the pawl 47 itself by a small spring. The pawl 47 alsohas operative thereon a Friction de vice shown as a spring clip or washer 51 which may be mounted on the pivot 4-8. tending to retard the swinging of said iwl. The arm 46 is engaged by a tension spring.

52 anchored to the housing. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the iinger 50 normally extends within the range of the plOjQCillOll. 31, and that its swinging movement to the right will cause :1 correspond-' ing swinging of the pawl 4:7, since a projecting tail oi the finger 50 engages an abutment on said pawl 47,-while the finger 50 is free to yield for limited swinging to the left independently of the pawl 47. The roli 1 is equipped with a pivoted spring pressed pawl engageable with a ratchet wheel 54: fixed to the housing, and this is formed with one wide faced tooth 5.), this wide faccd'tooth being at the bottom of the stamp can he applied at each ratchet wheel seen in Fig. 1 and where the pawl 53 will engage the same at the completion of an operative movement. t may now he understood that the arm at extending into the path of the projection 31 at the comple tionof operative movement locks theroli from any further movemcntsince the locking pawl d'ii'has its hooitendengaging the end of the arm 46. [is soon as the stamp is applied, however, and the roll 14 lifted from the stamp. receiving surface, the roll. will turn back some little under the action of the spring 52 which is then extended, and

thereupon the projection 81 engaging the inner side of the 50 will swing it and thus the pawl 4L out of loci: g engagement with the arm 46, the

iction member or washer 51 will hold the arm Win the position to which it is moved, until it is again shifted positively as now to be de scribed. the roll 14: swings the completion of an operative movement, the pro ectioni-ii engages the finger 50 on its outer s1de,i. 6;, as seen in i 2, and said finger then yields as to permit the irojection 31 to pass. Thcreuoon the continued move.

' entof the projection 31 will swing the arm 47 inward. e. to the left as seen in Fi ,8;

ment to lock the roll from'moving farther.

at the end of that only one application of the roll to the receiving surface, but soon as the device is lifted offer the receiving surface, the roll is again unlocked so that it is again ready for use.

Thus the roll is self-locked each operative movement so The wick 21'which as stated'is normally.

held spring pressed downward by the spring 22 has some little range of backward yielding movement as provided by the recess 17 111 the bottom of the. housing so'that even though the devlce be applied to the stamp receiving. surface more or less carelessly, it may be pressed down so that both the wick 21 and the bottom of the roli M will properly engage the receiving surface, thus dispensing with the requirement for particular care in applying the device at just the correct angle which has. been an objection hitherto in machines ofthis type. I

am aware that the inventionmay be embodied mother specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and therefore desire the present embodiment tobe considered in'all respects asvlllustrative ratchet wheel 1. t stamp machine, comprising 7 a magazine stamp holder, having a stamp applying element associated therewith, constructed and arranged to apply stamps by drawing the same over a receiving surface in frictional contacttherewith, and a moisture supplying element spaced from said stamp applying element,one'ofsaid elements having a yielding mounting permithoth of said elements to be pressed to a stamp 'receii 'ing surface in varying angular positions of the machine. I

2. A stampiaflixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, a stamp applying element, constructed and arranged to apply stamps by drawing the same over a receiving surface in frictional contact therewith, having means associated therewith for feeding out stamps from said holder, and a moisture supplying element mounted in advance of said stamp applying element inthe direction of operative movement, said elements having ayielding mounting with respect to each, other whereby both said elements may be pressed to a stamp receiving surface in varying angular positions of the machine,

3. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, constructed and arranged to apply stamps by drawing the same over a receiving surface in frictional contact therewith, having means associated therewith for feeding out stamps f om'said holder, and a holder for water having a discharge outlet positioned in advance of said roll in the direction of operative movement, and yieldingly mounted whereby both said roll and said discharge outlet may be pressed to a receiving surface in varying angular positions of the machine. A stamp aflixing machine, comprising a portable housing adapted to be held in the hand and .pressednpon a stamp-receiving a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll,

constructed and arranged to apply stamps by drawing the same over a recelving surface in frictional contact therewith, and a water tank swingingly mounted with a moisture applying wick having means for bold ing it yieldingly spaced from said roll and in ad vance thereof in the direction of operative movement for the purpose stated.

6. A. stamp aflixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, constructed and arranged to apply stamps by drawing the same over a receiving surface in frictional contact therewith, and means for clamping frictionally a stamp ribbon in the machine and feeding the same to said roll at an applying point.

7. 1i stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, and means for clamping frictionally a stamp ribbon in the machine and feeding the same to an applying point, said means having provision for feeding out automatically "ariable extents of the stamp ribbon at each operation according to the distance between perforation lines, and for gripping the ribbon on the perforation line regardless of variations in the spacing thereof.

8. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, constructed and arranged to apply stamps by drawing the same over a receiving surface in frictional contact therewith and means operated'by said roll for clamping the stamps with a frictional hold and feeding them to an applying point.

9. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, a feeding slide having means associated therewith to be operated by said roll for feeding stamps forward to said. roll, and equipped also with means for yieldingly retractin the same, and means associated with said slide for frictionally gripping a stamp ribbon to feed the same forward.

10. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder,an applying roll, and a slide for feeding stamps from said magazine to an applying point, said slide having associated therewith means for op eration by said roll to move the same forward and having spring means for retracting the same, said slide having a secondary slide associated therewith for frictionally gripping a stamp ribbon on its perforation lines.

11.. A. stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying element,and a reciprocatory slide for feeding the stamps to said applying element, said slide equipped with means for drawing the stamps from said magazine and bending them at the perforation line, and having means associated therewith. for gripping the stamps frictionally at the bend. on such perforation line to feed them forward.

12. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a holder for a roll of stamps, a stamp applying element, and a slide movable to draw the stamps from such roll and deliver them to an applying point, said slide formed withan angular projection constituting a corner and having means associated therewith for pressing the stamps toward such (airner to bend them at an ang e on their perforation lines, said slide having also associated therewith spring means for retracting the same to d aw a stamp ribbon from a roll in said holder.

13. A stamp allixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, a reciprocating slide for drawing a stamp ribbon from said holder and feeding it to said roll, a member having a cutting edge mounted adjacent said roll, and a pivoted pawl mounted to engage a stamp ribbon just to the rear of such cutting-0E edge to prevent drawing back thereof on the slide reciprocating movement.

let. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, a slide mounted for reciprocation to and from said roll constructed and arranged to draw the stamps from a supply in said holder and deliver them against said roll to an applying point, a cutting device mounted adjacent said applying roll in the path of stamp feed, and a pivoted pawl mounted adiacent said cutting device and to the rear thereof adapted to grip the stamp ribbon to prevent drawing back thereof by said slide on its reciprocating movement.

15. A stamp aflixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying element, and a slide mounted for reciprocation, adjacent said holder and in position to receive a stamp ribbon therefrom, to deliver stamps from said holder to said applying element equipped with stamp gripping means and arranged to draw the stamps from said holder ona retracting movement thereof and to feed the stamps forward to said applying element on a forward movement thereof.

16. A stamp aflixing machine, comprising a holder for a roll of stamps, an applying roll, and a slide mounted for reciprocation to feed a stamp ribbon from sald holder to said applying roll, said slide havmg associated therewith means for yieldingly retracting the same and also equipped with means for moving it forward operated by said applying roll, said slide having stamp gripping means cooperative therewith and arranged. to draw the stamp ribbon from said holder on its retracting movement and to feed the stamps forward to said applying roll on its forward movement.

17. A stamp affixing machine, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, means operated thereby for delivering the stamps from said holder to said roll, and means cooperative with said roll for automatically stopping the operation thereof after the feeding out of a stamp, said means 18. A stamp afiixing machine, eompris-.

ing a magazine stamp holder, an applying i011, means connected tor operation by said oll to feed a stamp ribbon from said holder to an appiying point, means "for severing predetermined extents of said Stamp ribbon at 10 eaohoperation, and a device arranged for control by said applying 1 011 to stop the operation thei'eofat the end of a definite operative movement, sald device havingprovision to be self-releasing upon the disengagement ofsaid applying r011 from a stamp receiving surfacev i In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification,

HARRY n." DANIELS.- 

